Rutgers' Savon Huggins steps up when called on in win over Army

Backup running back Savon Huggins had 10 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown in Rutgers' win over Army.Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE

The stat sheet shows sophomore running back Savon Huggins rushed for a pedestrian 33 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught a pass in today’s 28-7 victory over Army.

But it may have been the most impressive performance of his young career, one that could have far-reaching implications as the season heads down the stretch.

Rutgers controls their own destiny after 28-7 defeat of ArmyRutgers scored three times in the final 8:49 to earn a 28-7 victory over Army and improve to 8-1. Star-Ledger reporters Tom Luicci and Dave Hutchinson discuss the defense fueled victory and Rutgers final three weeks. They'll head to Cincinnati next week, followed by Pittsburgh and Louisville. It's simple, win out and win the Big East title. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

Rutgers three TDs in final 8:49 fuel 28-7 victory over ArmyRutgers was finally able to capitalize on a pair of Army mistakes in the punting game, converting both into touchdowns, and then added a 73-yard fumble return in the final 8:49 to pull away for a 28-7 victory over the Black Knights today at High Point Solutions Stadium. The No. 23-ranked Scarlet Knights improved to 8-1 heading into their defining three-game closing stretch against Big East opponents, starting with next Saturday's game at Cincinnati. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

With starting running back Jawan Jamison temporarily sidelined with an injured left ankle — he says doctors told him it’s a “little sprained” and he’ll be fine with treatment — Huggins, out of St. Peter’s Prep, came off the bench and showed glimpses of the talent that made him the state’s consensus top recruit in 2011.

He ripped off runs of 10 and 12 yards and caught a 9-yard pass to keep the offense moving with the score tied 7-7 late in the third and early in the fourth quarter. Later, he blasted over for a 2-yard touchdown that gave Rutgers a 21-7 lead with 6:28 left to play.

“Oh man, that was phenomenal,” said Jamison, who missed nearly two series before returning with 10:38 left to play. “It just lets me know that all the pressure isn’t on me. That Savon can come in and fill that void if I go down. That the team won’t be stressed.”

Nor will coach Kyle Flood.

“If (Jamison) isn’t 100 percent, I have a lot of confidence in Savon to run the ball, which he did,” Flood said.

It was the second-most carries in a game for Huggins, who has rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries this season while missing two games with a lower leg injury. Last year, he ran for just 146 yards and five touchdowns on 56 attempts in a disappointing year cut short by a knee injury.

“It felt really good to get my feet wet,” Huggins said. “The more carries I get, the better I get as the game goes on. It just really felt good to revive our offense because we were flat a little bit.

“I was able to bring positive energy. I think I showed the coaches they can trust me.”

Huggins, who came to Piscataway much more heralded than Jamison, insists he’s not frustrated by Jamison emerging as the workhorse. Jamison is 47 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark.

“This is my role and I’m making the best of it,” said Huggins, who drew cheers from the crowd after his 10- and 12-yard runs. “I can’t really complain. That’s not my focus.

“My focus is winning football games. That other stuff doesn’t affect me. I have a great supporting cast with Jawan, the coaches and my family. It’s just whenever my number is called, I have to be ready to produce.”

Jamison, too, says there’s no friction between the pair.

“No. No. Not at all,” he said. “We just both push each other. Yeah, it’s a competition, but it’s to push each other. It’s not a thing where one of us feels he’s better than the other.”